Chelsea avenged their FA Cup final heartbreak by overcoming top-four rivals Leicester City 2-1 in front of 8,000 fans at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
The Blues dominated the early proceedings as they sought revenge for their defeat at Wembley, and Timo Werner was among the thick of it, having a penalty appeal waved away and two goals disallowed - one for offside and another for handball following a VAR check.
N'Golo Kante being forced off in the opening exchanges added injury to insult for Chelsea, whose fans endured a first 45 minutes of frustration as Leicester stood firm.
Chelsea came out all guns blazing in the second period and finally got their reward in the 47th minute, as Antonio Rudiger was on hand unmarked at the back post from Ben Chilwell's deflected corner, with the ball finding its way into the back of the net off his hip.
VAR had not been Chelsea's friend in the first half, but the Blues cheered for the technology when Wesley Fofana was adjudged to have fouled Werner inside the area, and Jorginho calmly doubled the Blues' advantage from the spot in the 65th minute.
The Blues were given a scare when Kelechi Iheanacho dragged Leicester back into game in the 76th minute following a defensive error, but Chelsea held on to secure all three points and leapfrog their opponents into third in the table, with Leicester dropping down to fourth.
Chelsea now face a final-day showdown with Aston Villa before the Champions League final with Manchester City, while Leicester welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the King Power Stadium to round off their Premier League season.
HIGHLIGHTS
4th min: Quick break from Chelsea sees Timo Werner drive forward and find Ben Chilwell, who lashes an effort across goal but Christian Pulisic cannot poke it home.
Big chance for #CFC early on! ⏰
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2021
Ben Chilwell drags his shot across goal and it edges wide!
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6th min: Reece James drags an effort wide from distance, but an encouraging start from the hosts.
9th min: N'Golo Kante and Pulisic are both thwarted by a besieged Leicester defence, and the resulting corner comes to nothing.
19th min: Werner and 8,000 Chelsea fans want a penalty following contact from Youri Tielemans, but Mike Dean waves away the appeals.
❌ | NO PENALTY!#CFC are appealing for a spot-kick after Timo Werner goes down in the box but Mike Dean gives a free-kick to #LCFC!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2021
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22nd min: A swift Chelsea attack ends with Werner poking the ball home before he is correctly flagged offside.
25th min: Jamie Vardy finds space in the box and connects with a cheeky flick from a corner, which sails harmlessly over Edouard Mendy's crossbar.
28th min: Mason Mount brings the ball down excellently under pressure in the box and gets a shot away, which Kasper Schmeichel has to tip over, and Thiago Silva's header from the corner goes just over the bar.
32nd min: Chelsea are forced into an early change as Mateo Kovacic replaces N'Golo Kante in the middle. Big blow for the Blues ahead of the Champions League final.
33rd min: Jorginho picks out Werner, who is thwarted by Timothy Castagne as he attempts to get a shot off. Another Chelsea corner fails to bear fruit afterwards.
34th min: Chelsea get a corner right this time, but Werner is frustrated again. The striker goes for a header but the ball cannons off his arm and over the line before Schmeichel can get it away, and VAR rules out his effort.
37th min: Another Chelsea attack goes begging as Mount's half-volley sails over the crossbar.
47th min: Chelsea fans finally get to celebrate a goal, and this one is not disallowed. Chilwell whips in a corner which takes a slight nick off Vardy on its way to Antonio Rudiger, who bundles home from close range at the back post. 1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea take the lead! 🟦
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2021
The ball hits Antonio Rudiger and ends up in the back of the net!
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64th min: Werner breaks away down the left, but Castagne does enough to put him off and Schmeichel is equal to his tame effort.
65th min: VAR checks for a possible penalty following Wesley Fofana's foul on Werner - just inside the area - and referee Dean points to the spot. Jorginho steps up and gets the better of Schmeichel with his trademark hop. 2-0 Chelsea.
Jorginho becomes #CFC's top scorer in the Premier League this season with his 7⃣th penalty! 🎯
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2021
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71st min: Ayoze Perez tries to reduce the deficit from distance, but his effort is straight down the throat of Mendy.
76th min: Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho halves the deficit seconds after wasting another chance. Chelsea get caught in possession and Wilfred Ndidi picks out his compatriot in acres of space, and the Leicester man slots home into the bottom corner. 2-1.
81st min: Another long-range effort from Iheanacho is collected by Mendy, but Leicester are giving Thomas Tuchel's men one or two concerns late on.
90th min: Perez has a magnificent opportunity to level the scores, but he leans back and skies his effort.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ANTONIO RUDIGER
© Reuters
While Chelsea fans donned their masks in the stands, Antonio Rudiger wore his protective gear with pride, and the centre-back appropriately put in a warrior-like performance in the capital.
Rudiger was in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock, played his part defensively to preserve Chelsea's lead, and a silky bit of skill got the Chelsea faithful off their seats in the second half. Strong showing from the German tonight.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Former Fox N'Golo Kante has had two games to forget against his former club, with the Chelsea man leaving the field after just 32 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman was seen conversing with Tuchel before limping down the tunnel in a worrying sight for Chelsea fans, who will be praying that he manages to shake off the issue in time for the Champions League final.
BEST STAT
3 - Each of Antonio Rüdiger's last three Premier League goals have all come against Leicester City, accounting for 50% of his total goal tally in the competition (3/6). Hunter. pic.twitter.com/RE2Uu4NL70
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 18, 2021
MATCH STATS
Possession: Chelsea 59%-41% Leicester
Shots: Chelsea 17-7 Leicester
Shots on target: Chelsea 6-3 Leicester
Corners: Chelsea 6-5 Leicester
Fouls: Chelsea 15-16 Leicester
LINEUPS
CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Mendy; James, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta (Zouma 87'), Kante (Kovacic 32'), Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Pulisic; Werner (Giroud 90')
LEICESTER CITY (3-4-2-1): Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Soyuncu; Albrighton (Pereira 67'), Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Perez, Maddison (Iheanacho 60'); Vardy
Ben Knapton
